The Ridge space, in south Delhi, is an extension of the Aravallis.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court docket has requested Delhi Lieutenant Normal VK Saxena, in his capability because the chairperson of the Delhi Growth Authority (DDA), to file a private affidavit explaining what steps are being taken to repair accountability for the alleged unlawful felling of over 600 bushes within the capital’s Ridge space, which is an extension of the Aravallis.
Listening to a contempt case towards the DDA Vice-Chairperson Subhasish Panda and a few officers from the authority in addition to the Delhi authorities over the alleged felling of bushes within the Ridge space on Wednesday, a bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra additionally mentioned felony motion ought to be taken towards the officers chargeable for the tree chopping if the DDA chairperson agrees.
In an earlier listening to, the DDA had admitted that bushes had been axed on forest land within the southern a part of the Ridge in south Delhi to widen a street connecting Chhatarpur with the South Asian College. The court docket had come down closely on the authority and requested why this was hidden from it regardless of figuring out that tree-cutting couldn’t be completed with out permission.
A special bench had termed the DDA’s actions “wilful violation of the orders of this court docket and disobedience to the legislation” and “interference within the administration of justice”.
The bench had additionally sought particulars of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Saxena’s go to to the realm on February 3.
Affidavit Particulars
Within the listening to on Wednesday, the Chief Justice-led bench requested Mr Saxena to submit an in depth affidavit answering whether or not he was conscious that bushes had already been reduce earlier than an utility for permission was filed within the Supreme Court docket. It requested the LG to specify whether or not there had been any dialogue about permission for chopping bushes and when he was instructed that the nod was required.
The bench mentioned that since its order requiring permission for chopping of bushes was to protect the “pristine nature” of the Ridge, the LG ought to clarify in his affidavit what motion was taken towards the officers who’ve been discovered responsible of not following the process. It additionally requested him whether or not felony prosecution can be initiated towards the officers and mentioned that if the reply was sure, it might anticipate such motion to be taken with out ready for its orders.
Stressing on the necessity for fixing accountability the bench mentioned that the affidavit also needs to point out “what motion has been taken towards the officers for intentionally suppressing the very fact earlier than this court docket that the bushes had been felled earlier than the appliance was filed with out discover on the time of passing the order on March 4”.
One other key piece of knowledge that the bench has sought is what was completed with the timber from the bushes that had been felled and the steps being taken for the restoration of the realm.
The court docket has requested Mr Saxena to submit the affidavit earlier than October 22, which has been set as the subsequent date of listening to.